{"product_id":"history-and-illusion-in-politics-paperback-9780521000437","title":"History and Illusion in Politics (Paperback) 9780521000437","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eHistory and Illusion in Politics\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe distinguished political philosopher Raymond Geuss examines critically the central topics in western political thought.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eRaymond Geuss (Author)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9780521000437, Cambridge University Press\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003ePaperback, published 28 June 2001\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e184 pages\u003cbr\u003e22.9 x 15.2 x 1.1 cm, 0.28 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\"Writing in a clear, analytic style that avoids superficial logic chopping, Guess (Cambridge) argues that the elements underlying much contemporary thinking about liberal democratic states with capitalist economies and a commitment to human rights--conjunctions resulting from contingne thistorical processes--are often conceptually confused and incoherent.... The book would serve as an excellent resource for both graduate and undergraduate students. Highly recommended.\"   Choice\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eThe distinguished political philosopher Raymond Geuss examines critically some of the most widely held and important preconceptions about contemporary politics held in advanced Western societies. In a series of analytically focused chapters Dr Geuss discusses the state, authority, violence and coercion, the concept of legitimacy, liberalism, toleration, freedom, democracy, and human rights. He argues that the liberal democratic state committed to the defense of human rights is a historically contingent conjunction of disparate elements that do not fit together coherently. One of Geuss's most striking claims is that it makes sense to speak of rights only relative to a mechanism for enforcing them, and that therefore the whole concept of a 'human right', as it is commonly used in contemporary political philosophy, is a confusion. This is a profound and concise essay on the basic structure of contemporary politics, written throughout in a voice that is sceptical, engaged, and clear.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003ePreface\u003cbr\u003e Introduction\u003cbr\u003e Part I. The State: 1.1 Political associations\u003cbr\u003e 1.2 Violence, coercion, and power\u003cbr\u003e 1.3 The concept of the state\u003cbr\u003e 1.4 The concept of legitimacy\u003cbr\u003e 1.5 Authority\u003cbr\u003e 1.6 Weber's 'modern' state\u003cbr\u003e 1.7 History and the concept of the state\u003cbr\u003e 1.8 Anarchy and the state\u003cbr\u003e 1.9 The legitimacy of the state\u003cbr\u003e Part II. Liberalism: 2.1 The context\u003cbr\u003e 2.2 Toleration\u003cbr\u003e 2.3 Freedom\u003cbr\u003e 2.4 Individualism\u003cbr\u003e 2.5 Limited, unlimited, and discretionary power\u003cbr\u003e Part III. Democracy and Rights: 3.1 Democracy: description and interpretation\u003cbr\u003e 3.2 Democracy: evaluation\u003cbr\u003e 3.3 Popular control and the state\u003cbr\u003e 3.4 Legal rights\u003cbr\u003e 3.5 Human rights\u003cbr\u003e 3.6 Rights and politics\u003cbr\u003e 4. Conclusion\u003cbr\u003e Index.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eSubject Areas: Philosophy [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on Philosophy\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22Philosophy%20%5BHP%5D%22\"\u003eHP\u003c\/a\u003e]\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"Cambridge University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46001681465624,"sku":"9780521000437","price":21.69,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0730\/2037\/5320\/products\/9780521000437i_8f769ccc-d837-4793-88d7-2f2f1fc9f0b7.jpg?v=1691376317","url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/history-and-illusion-in-politics-paperback-9780521000437","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}